Aaron Rodgers not worried about rust if cleared to play

Green Bay - Packers QB Aaron Rodgers did not say whether he expected to be cleared this week, but he said rust is not a big factor in his game after several days of practice last week and he's hoping to prove this week that he's ready to play.

Rodgers, speaking on his radio show on 540 ESPN Milwaukee, Rodgers said he got another week of healing following the organizational decision to hold him out of the Dallas game and has thrown only a little bit since.

“My hope is that I practice tomorrow and experience no setbacks, mentally or physically, and we’ll go from there," he said.

He said how much his cracked left collarbone has healed will be the determining factor, but he's hoping the fact the Packers now control their own destiny will weigh the reward factor his way.

"I think there has to be on some level a risk-reward conversation," Rodgers said. "You have to base that on the evidence you see on the scan, but also how I'm feeling and if I'm able to do normal football movements without pain. That obviously goes into the equation.

"Now a couple of weeks ago, that wasn't in the equation because I felt pain. Last week, I felt more like myself, I think the guys would say I looked like myself and I knew I was closer. It's Tuesday here, I haven't practiced this week. I kind of did the same thing I did last week after I was ruled out Friday morning.

"I really didn't do anything Friday. Only threw a couple Sunday morning. And so we're sitting here with another 4, 5 days of rest while still doing my strengthening exercises and my posture stuff. So we'll see how I feel tomorrow."

Rodgers said that his hope this week was that things continue to progress in the way he practices. He said that having a scan won't necessarily help convince team physician Patrick McKenzie that he is ready to return to the field.

There are other factors that go into it and he's not expecting to have another scan this week.

"I think you can probably guess," he said of what the results would be. "I have an idea what it's going to look like based on the previous one, the amount of days we have between scans, project that forward to a similar amount of days and have a pretty good idea and provide over-radiation."

As for rust or conditioning Rodgers said he's not concerned about that once he returns to the field.

"I don't really worry about those too much," he said. "As far those two I would worry a little bit more about conditioning. But I've been doing my workouts and feeling good. Practiced last week and took more reps than I had in awhile and felt pretty good.

"I think I may have mentioned rust last week. I think my definition of rust and other people's is a little different. I would rely on the guys, their answers to see how they thought I looked last week. I felt pretty good."

As for how things went down last week, Rodgers admitted he was frustrated and saddened by McKenzie's decision not to clear him, but he said he respected the doctor's call.

"Sometimes those guys have to save you from yourself," he said. "Doc and I always have had a close relationship and an honest relationship. I think he trusts me on how I'm feeling. It doesn't mean I'm not going to battle him."

About Tom Silverstein

Tom Silverstein has covered the Green Bay Packers since 1989. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year award winner.